Geopolitical tensions, inflation fears and shifting interest rate expectations have created a challenging backdrop for bond investors. Dickie Hodges, manager of the Nomura Global Dynamic Bond fund, discusses why these periods can also create attractive opportunities, how rising yields have transformed the outlook for fixed income, and why today’s market looks very different from a decade ago. The conversation covers credit spreads, emerging market debt, financial bonds and the importance of maintaining liquidity. We also explore how hedging strategies are used to reduce portfolio risk without sacrificing return potential, before finishing with an outlook for the remainder of 2026 and where the most compelling opportunities currently lie.

What’s covered in this episode:

Geopolitics and bond markets
Why higher yields matter again
Oil prices and inflation outlook
Interest rate expectations
Credit spreads explained
Investment grade versus high yield
Financial bonds
Emerging market debt opportunities
Why South Africa stands out
Liquidity in fixed income
Hedging explained simply
Insurance for portfolios
Return outlook for 2026

Learn more on fundcalibre.com

Please remember, we’ve been discussing individual companies to bring investing to life for you. It’s not a recommendation to buy or sell. The fund may or may not still hold these companies at the time of listening. Elite Ratings are based on FundCalibre’s research methodology and are the opinion of FundCalibre’s research team only.